News

East Lancs biker's death ‘an accident’

A CORONER has ruled that a biker’s death in a road smash was accidental.

Shaun Taylor, 47, was riding on Bolton-by-Bowland Road, near Sawley, when he lost control of his Yamaha R1 and crashed into a Nissan Navara.

Mr Taylor, a security officer, died at the scene At the inquest in Clitheroe, assistant coroner Elaine Block, heard how the former Blackburn College student, from Adlington, was travelling towards Sawley on December 17 when he collided with the Nissan travelling in the opposite direction.

PC Richard Roberts, who led the investigation, said it appeared that Mr Taylor was braking heavily on the approach to the bend which caused him to stray into the opposite lane.

Based on evidence at the scene and following an investigation of the vehicles, Mr Taylor didn’t have enough time to correct the bike and move into the correct lane before colliding with the Nissan driver’s wing mirror.

PC Roberts said no defects were found on either vehicle that could have impacted on the incident which happened shortly after 1.30pm.

He said: “After colliding with the wing mirror it appears that Mr Taylor impacted with the mental fence panels that were being transported in the trailer behind the 4X4.”

Michael Carroll, who was driving the 4X4, said: “As I approached the bend I could see the motorbike and he was clearly on his side of the road.

“He did brake and that’s when his back wheel came out and he lost control.”